Flying on Mars is rapidly becoming my favorite thing to do. The trip from the Charicific valley gave us a lot of time to plan. How we could set up where we'd have headquarters was especially important. I was all for having chapter houses of sorts but Mars rightfully suggested we wait to see if we could recruit some sort of support group. Not front liners but perhaps former military or police. A lot could also be learned when we eventually got to Rota.
I'm not sure if we're going to do gym battles after this league for instance. Ten years is not a long time to get together a global group but we'll see. Leagues are probably still amazing places to recruit. I'll decide after we're done with the Silver Conference.Zaela is going to get jealous if I only ride Mars so I release her on a break halfway to Azalea Town along with the rest and ask if she wants to fly with us."Uh. Yes. Try to keep up. Azalea is that way right?" My starter more or less has the correct direction. Query and Mars are the two most knowledge heavy of the group but when Zaela found out she could fly early in life she memorized every map we had in the Clan."Indeed Zaela. Please forgive me if I insist Mother ride with me. We really should get a harness for your hide." Mars is kinda right. Rough Skin is amazing as an ability but we've had to replace my outfit a bunch of times just riding her on the ground. Zaela lets out a bit of blue flame in annoyance but doesn't disagree."Wait. Zaela has a town?! Since when? I want one!""Sunny. Its Azalea Town.""A! Zaela town! A! As in she has more than one?!"Mars is sighing as Tru tries again."No Sunny. It sounds similar but its actually slightly different. Aaaaazallleeeaah. As opposed to Zaaeelah.""Oh. Well why did they make it so close to her name? That's not very nice. Are they trying to confuse us? Isn't that a ray anyway? Not a word? Are there verbal pokémon attacks like that?""Mistress, I'll be returning myself until we reach town.""Oh hoh! You're so cute Sunny! Don't you ever change. Come here and take this. I made it with that fruit juice your mother got for us the other day.""Yay! Thank's Aurora. You're the best. Mm. Slushy."So we got back to flying soon after. Zaela is getting much better in the air and I'm quite looking forward to seeing what we can do with it when she's ready for faster movements.The scenery was very nice and I'm glad I bought goggles before leaving. Lots of fliers in Blackthorn so I got some pretty nifty ones even if they are a tad uncomfortable over my patch. Today is white and pink for Sunny. She couldn't stop purring when she sees me put it on.Aurora has gotten a bit more bold. She's had issues with people staring at her but her victory in the last gym and being around us in general are taking some of her skittishness away. I probably shouldn't have told her how rare she is and that she needed to be careful but sadly it better for her to be cautious than stolen or something.Despite that, today she's going to be walking through Azalea Town with Tru and I. Should be interesting. The town isn't that much to write home about. Its a town. Very pretty and rustic. Meshes with nature but peaceful things are not for me for a while. The gym is interesting though. Looks like a greenhouse of sorts from the outside. Its all hardened plastic instead of glass though. One thing this world has right are durable materials. Cause pokémon battles.Aurora did get some stares and she hid a little behind me but eventually started being more confident when we started passing an elementary school and some five or so year olds ran over to peer at her."Whoa! What are they? Hey lad-double whoa! You have an eyepatch!" The girl next to this boy shushed him hard while I just grinned and leaned over the fence. One of the teachers stood up but relaxed at the lucario calmly waiting by my side. Tru moved off to another gathering of children, not really recognizing her species, but calmed by the feeling she was purposefully emitting."Aurora here is called an amaura. She's pretty unique but I think she's beautiful. I don't think she'd mind if you say hi.""Yes! Is that fine Mrs. Porter?" Said teacher just paused and walked closer, still watching the lucario who was casually juggling small, harmless aura spheres for her group of children and nods. She gets major props for completely ignoring my eyepatch."Very well. But thank Ms….""Ella Mita. And its not trouble. Its good for her too. She adores children." That's for sure true. She spent as much time with Joy and Becca's twins as she could. Even suffered through warmer environment for it. Aurora, spurred by their friendliness lets out a low croon and pads around to the gate Mrs. Porter opens for us to come in. I approve of an old happy-looking machoke that I see sitting just out of sight of the gate. Probably a bit of protection mostly for wild pokémon but could handle any human idiots easily.Aurora lets the two children touch her and exclaim how chilly she is while she starts making a small pile of snow for them to play with. Its actually quite easy for her to do with her ability. Just lowers the power a bit. We've been working on her weakness to the warmer weather by having her run her ability as much as possible during the early morning. We'll work up to noon. Both the girl and the boy are gathering up the snow to fling at their distracted classmates and I just grin and lean against the fence."Thank you for this. Most trainers are pretty jealous of their pokémon. Amaura was it? I don't think I've heard of that species." Aurora runs slowly after the children, providing them more ammunition. Tru, who is still becoming more and more mellow, uses Copycat and provides the other side snow as well though that requires an actual powdered snow from Aurora rather than just her snow warning. Lines are drawn. Battle begins with giant shrieks of happiness. Sighing, I release Sunny and she turns her face up at me with a Growlithe Eyes Mega Attack and I just nod.A wild sylveon joins the battle!"Aurora is very special. She's a revived fossil. The only of her kind in the world as far as I know." Sunny ups the ante , joining Tru as Tru can't make snow unless Aurora uses a move. Reflect screens start popping up to make Aurora's barriers even out from my Sunshine."Really. That's amazing. Isn't that very expensive?" Mrs Porter is a fairly older woman. In her mid sixties or so and I can feel her aura even without letting my senses flow. My project is paying off I think."Oh extremely. I traded something important for the process. Entirely worth it though." My lone eye looks at Aurora fondly. She's laughing so loudly and letting the boy from the start hide behind her as she mirror coat tosses back a giant snowball Tru threw. The lucario's eyes widen and is knocked off her feet only to gracefully turn it into a backflip. Sunny has her ribbons wrapped around two children and has their heads near hers in a huddle. I'm 100% sure they can't understand her but they nod along anyway. Something signals a break and they all run screaming to chase Tru. Betrayal!"Do you mind if I release the rest of my team? They are very, very large but I promise none would harm anyone here." Mrs. Porter takes my warning seriously and nods after giving my three family members already out a look. Aurora uses more powdered snow in the middle to give everyone a fair amount of snowballs."Go ahead." Smiling in response, Mars comes out first and moves off to the side and lays down as if taking a nap. His eyes remain open as he watches the children with a small smile. There's a bit of a hush as everyone registers my black scaled charizard. It grows more prominent when Query pops out and floats over to the jungle gym. Seeing him start to spin the merry-go round and hum a slow metallic tune does a lot to ease things.Then Zaela shows up. Not much to say. Nearly thirteen foot dragon shark with giant cleavers for arms. Mrs. Porter's eyes widen with alarm until Zaela swims into the ground and comes up to shove snow over Tru. The children, bless them, just start to try and pelt their previous targets. Aurora smacks Zaela with her hoof and obviously scolds her for ruining all the snow pile she has and the children view that as permission to come say hi to Zae. She backs off and slides under the earth."Zaela's skin is very rough kids. She's friendly and won't mind you tossing snowballs at her but if you try and climb on her you could get hurt. Mars and Query over there are fine to touch though. Just mind Mars' tail." My whole team is familiar with Joy's twins. They know how to be kind.The afternoon passes quickly then. The school is small and Mrs. Porter confesses that practical knowledge of pokémon is a godsend. I spend a lot of time teaching some of the kids about my family and all of them stare amazed at Tru's ability to talk back to them. Its the first time I've seen her blush. I only know that because of the feeling coming off of her. Yep. Aura project is paying off.We stay until school lets out and my is it hilarious watching parents come and see their kids laying against my lazy charizard, being patiently pushed up and down slides by my massive floating steel supercomputer on legs or chasing Aurora and Sunny around the grassy field. My very much asleep starter with only her giant fin out of the earth probably doesn't help. Tru though is the one who is very much fucking with people. Not on purpose either."It was good to meet you Todd. Please do keep up with your artwork. I enjoyed the story you showed in the dirt.""Susan. Please watch yourself. When you are little it is easy to forget where you are going. Ma'am. Your daughter tripped. It was nothing serious and I 'kissed the boo boo'. But still.""Yes Elias. I will remember you. It was a pleasure climbing that tree with you.""Penny. Of course you can be whatever you want. Dream high and work hard and nothing will be out of your grasp...That means you can do it.""Don't let it get to you Rudy. You'll do better next test if you concentrate. I know that you have a lot of energy. If you keep having trouble don't be afraid to ask for help. I didn't when I was young and I regret it."Thank you ma'am but no, I am fine with merely thanks for showing your son how to tie his shoes. Its just making it fun for him. Sunny sang him a song and we just made up the words. I'm sure he'll teach you them."Sunny hated seeing them go. Everyone had fun. I love my family. Gym tomorrow.BugsThis gym started off shitty. I haven't cursed in a while. It started off shiiiiity. I'm out by myself. I can curse all I like.I just took a peek last time but it really is a lovely gym. Entering, there is another of those stereotypical random helpers to tell me where to go. I'm being a bit mean but they were so dismissive.But! This person didn't recognize me. Which means mom didn't get to this place. Right? The goodwill fade as my eyepatch was stared at. How is it that none of the kids made a big deal about my eye yesterday and this asshole did? Urgh. I don't really care for some people but why is this different? I suppose because I'm being gawked at.Whatever. Gym trainers. I won't go into the slaughter. I used Sunny and it was pretty mean. Moonblast destroyed almost all of them alone. The only issue we had was with a guy who had a scyther that double teamed us. Sunny used swift and disarming voice after she got bored. Ahem. She thought popping double teams was hilarious and kept chasing them, giggling and using her ribbons to smack them, acting like she was Query and yelling 'Sunny Hammers!' over and over.The guy's face was priceless. And I have a feeling this gym wasn't warned about me or ignored it.I'm at the main room waiting for the Gym Leader to appear and tossing Zaela's ball up and down. I'm trying to let everyone have a gym battle but Zaela flat out told me not to use her unless I think she'll have fun or we've been insulted. This might constitute insulting. Depends. If they're ignorant? Fine. But ignoring my mom's advice? Insulting.The man who steps through is rather short and a tad round. His expression is quite bored and he looks as if he just got out of bed. My lone eye narrows but I refuse to make a snap decision. I must not get arrogant. I'm strong but not the best. Gotta remember."Right. Welcome to the Azalea Gym. Name's Hardy. How many badges you got?" Blinking, I lift my leather jacket to show the single badge attached there and he nods."This'll be a two on two battle then. I'm not allowed to substitute but you can whenever-"Gotta make sure so I raise my hand as he looks at me, staring at my lone eye briefly but not recognizing it. Guess that's fine. "I don't suppose you've heard of Ella Mita?"At this his eyes widen and he snorts a bit. "So you're Hannah's kid. Yeah. I got her warning. Its still a two on two battle." The scorn in his tone settles my decision. Shrugging I lean back and nod to the referee that I'm ready."This will be a two on two match between Ella Mita of Blackthorn and Gym Leader Hardy Reskan. Only the challenger may substitute. Begin!"Calmly I wait for him to release his beedrill. It looks somewhat old. Perhaps intermediate level. I do my Kakashi eyesmile imitation and toss out Zaela's ball. She heard the whole thing. No stasis mode ever for my pokémon unless they request it or they're extremely hurt.Zaela emerges with a roar that nearly shatters the closest windows. Thirteen feet of pissed off dragon sister makes the referee pale and the Gym Leader back up a step. She doesn't wait and shoves herself off the ground with enough force that kick back the dirt makes forces the psychic shields all gyms have to activate. She aimed it perfectly so it wouldn't hit me. The sound is like a shotgun.Zaela is pretty good at holding back after almost a year with Aurora but I worry for a moment for the beedrill. Her Dragon Rush hits so hard its out before it hits the ground. Standing over the downed bug she snarls at Hardy and backs away to her original position without breaking her gaze of him.Hardy shakily returns his beedrill and shifts to look at me. I'm calmly waiting for him to continue. He considers things for a moment then presses a button along his trainer box and places beedrill's ball there and pulls out an old looking nest ball. "I apologize. That was rude of me."Alright. I might forgive him for that. Sucking up pride in front of a ten year old, even if I have a garchomp that could destroy this building, has gotta sting. Excitement fills me as a pretty giant scizor is released. Zaela snorts in approval. Maybe this'll train us for a rematch with Steven? Hardy nods his head to give us the first move and this time he's quite more respectful about it.My starter doesn't bother with a sandstorm just yet and dips into the earth in that disconcerting manner of hers that leaves no trace. Even if the steel bug might be immune to it, terrain isn't just about damage. Scizor buzzes in interest and cross his arms in a swords dance. Immediately he splits into a double team so smoothly that I can't even remotely see which one is real. I could tell with aura but this is Zaela's fun, I won't spoil it. Even if a lot of pokédex entries suggest scizor can't fly, this one doesn't appear to care as it flits about quite easily.My starter begins with old fun. Flamethrowers that are now significant threats pop up for split seconds in controlled spurts start whittling down the double teams. Scizor just keeps adding until his dance is full then starts to fly around in random patterns until he sees his shot. With blinding speed he times it perfect to smash a technician enhanced Bullet Punch into my sister as her giant head snaps up.I'm a little surprised it hit from her roar of pain but the barely dodged crunch tells me she wanted him to get in. She just missed. Scizor keeps this up, dancing around and pissing Zaela off without end until she changes tactics. A sandstorm explodes up and Zaela's own double team emerges. Seeing that many giant dragons coming at him stalls scizor for just a split second and using the same trick as on beedrill my starter leaves the ground with authority. This time though its with something she and Mars have been working on.Her double team was the first distraction, the roaring Dragon Rush the second as scizor turns to dodge her with a bug buzz hammering her massive head...And crashes directly into the stone edge she raised from the still raging sandstorm, hidden behind the overwhelming lack of visiblity. There is a horrible clanging sound as the attack shoves him into her crunch. Down they go into the earth and I know its over. Hardy forfeits immediately and I slam my foot on the ground. Scizor isn't totally thrashed as Zaela didn't have time to cook him underground yet. Still, Hardy recalls him quickly and starts making his way over.To his credit he walks past the emerging Zaela with a nod of respect, even if she growls at him in displeasure. The referee is still just staring at her. He hasn't done anything else and shakily waves the victory flag in my favor after jerking to attention."I am very sorry. I could give excuses but they shouldn't affect my duties. If you'd like to return another time and face the rest of my team I'd be happy to give you a better battle." Zaela purposefully stomps her way over and towers over Hardy. I might forgive quickly but Zaela's still pissed."Thank you. I'd love to sometime. Zaela, sadly, holds a grudge." I'm not sad. She can do what she wants but hey, gotta be polite. I do need allies later. "So I'm afraid your team might be in for a bad time if she decides she wants to fight you again."Hardy glances over his shoulder way, way up at her and sighs deeply. "I'd probably deserve it but my team does not. So I suppose we'll see if you come back eh?" Pulling out a Hive Badge he hands it over with a weak smile and I nod.I wasn't going to be petty. Really. But mom would never forgive me. As I'm walking away I speak over my shoulder after recalling Zaela, who can't fit through the door. "I'll make sure to tell my mom alllll about this battle."The gulp from behind me is so very sweet to the ears.After that I don't particularly want to see the rest of the town so I mount up on Mars and head towards Goldenrod. There are a few choices to go to. The onix tunnel would be a must for training if not for Momma's mastery of earth and such. Still, kind of tempted. Nah.Len Town is another choice due to the ghosts said to be around there but I'm not set to get my ghost for a while yet. Decisions decisions. Just fly on to Goldenrod? A lot to do there. Now. I think I've been pretty good about planning for the most part. And preparing and all that jazz. We're all fed. I make sure to find proper nutrients everywhere and all that jazz. All good right?When I was planning my pokémon after the original six I did something different. I had some of them be in their middle evolutions to save some time for me and also give them battle experience before they met me. Or so I thought. Plus I gave them a shitton of attacks. Given how Tru started I probably should have expected something to happen like how I met seven.That said, love the guy.Mars and I were having some fun while flying. I told him about Shikamaru on a whim and he actually laughed, saying yes that name would have worked well with him. Thus we're not paying attention to the forest we're flying over and watching clouds in honor of his almost name."That one is a snorlax about to dance.""Mother. Even if snorlax would dance I can't see how that would be a-oh. He's upside down. Good one. That one over there is your mother breathing fire.""I don't see that. It just looks like a monster sorta-ohhhh. Hah. You're lucky I love you or I'd tell her what you said.""Only reason I said it Mother...Now-"So the thunderbolt that nearly hit us set my hair up on its ends. Mars, conscious that I have no secure way of being on him for a battle (never again letting myself put the flying harness in comfort adjustments) actually tosses me up to flip over and catch me in his arms then taps Query's ball to release him before I can think."Attack incoming Query! Take Mother and follow when safe!" With that my black dragon shouts his fury as his kind can and begins to weave, dodging what looks like a thundershock this time and already beginning a dragon dance. Query already has me with psychic and his muted anger is humming in the back of my mind as we float after Mars.Gouts of flame and crashing brush are easy to follow and we come upon Mars slamming a black and yellow bipedal pokémon into the ground and reaching back to charge a Dragon Claw to end it. My family is taught not to hold back in life and death situations and Mars felt he almost lost me. Not from the attack. People here can take a surprising amount of damage, but we were close enough to some trees that I may not have gotten one of my other family members out before I hit something hard. And his memories of Matthew Stone are always fresh in his mind. My eye widens at the pokémon though and I scream.Even if it wasn't who I thought, I wouldn't want the blood on Mars' soul."MARS! Don't!" Its a close thing but my son shifts his aim and merely leaves a scratch through the Electabuzz's fur. Snarling in anger he lets flames leak out of his mouth and doesn't let his foot move from the chest of our attacker."Move and die shithead." Okay. Maybe I should stop cursing around my kids. Even if they are destruction monsters.The electabuzz just raises his hands and lays back as if he's about to stretch out for a nap. His voice is shockingly (panic laugh here) friendly. "Look guy. I'm sorry. Really. I didn't see you had a passenger. Usually your kind is really good for a fight and there's a lot of you not too far away. I got let go by a trainer a long time ago but the battling part never leaves you. I didn't mean it and she's alright yeah?"The electabuzz looks over at me and gives that voice you have when you know someone isn't going to understand you but you still try to make them comprehend. The one that's kind of condescending. Sorta funny I guess? I don't feel malice. Yeah. He talks like that. Then again he probably doesn't realize I can understand him. "Girl. Mind calling him off? I'm friiiiendly. I didn't mean it. Just wanted a decent fight. Oh wow. You're both shiny. Uhm. Sorry too Meta-bud."Query is very vindictive about my safety. Insanely so. But only if he senses that it was done on purpose. "I've no issue with you even if you are a Thunder...bug. Forgive me. I am not familiar with your species."Mars actually snorts at that and the electabuzz just laughs loudly, getting to his feet after Mars steps off at my signal.My likely seventh teammate winds his arm around in pain and glances up at Mars. "Neat team you have with you. Your trainer is a fighter too? Gotta be tough to lose an eye." I still haven't talked to him yet as his voice is just so jolly….Oh. His nature.Wattson the ElectabuzzNature: JollyAbility: StaticMoves: Thunder Shock, Cross Chop, Thunderbolt, Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Focus Punch, Low Kick, Rolling Kick, Meditate, Dynamic Punch, Light Screen, Barrier, Thunderpunch, Discharge, Thunder, Shock WaveYeah. I gave him a lot of attacks. And I regret it."You said your trainer abandoned you?" My voice is even but Query peers at me in concern. He can feel the guilt rattling in my head at that."Well yeah I did-wait. Did you understand that? Oy. Meta-bud did you tell-""No. I can understand you. I'm an aura user." Cue the usually showing off my hand glowing with power thing but I also release Tru who looks about curiously at the area. Electabuzz just stares at the lucario then back at me as I clamp down hard on my feelings.What about the rest of my pokémon? Are there even electabuzz normally in Johto? I don't remember. Did Fate cause this poor guy to meet a shitty trainer to eventually find his way here and be let go? Query is very alarmed now and Tru snaps her gaze to me with concern.Electabuzz, thank Arceus, just stares in a bit of awe and nudges Mars with a grin in his voice. "Well aren't you guys lucky to have a trainer you can complain to! Hah! That's amazing. Glad we got to meet even if it was on the wrong foot. Feet for you eh Meta-bud? Nice to meet you all, really. It was a boring day."He's super nice too. Why the hell was he abandoned? What the fuck. Sure. Go to the pokémon world. Have your favorite most broken pokémon. Make it easy on your stupid dream and not consider how you are fucking with their lives."Mars, Tru, if you would mind setting up camp? We're going to camp here with our friend if that's fine with you? We have berries and one of my family can make it into a desert I'm sure you'd love." I'm keeping my face neutral until I can get Query away from this for a minute. I need him to calm me down. Tru would work too but Query gets to the heart of me so easily."Oh yeah! I'd love that. I really miss companions like a team yeah? How many yah got? This is amazing. Never thought I could get to talk to a human. Hah! There's a place over here that'll let you start a fire easy." He's killing me. Forcing a smile I release Sunny and make sure she's out of range to touch me with a ribbon. No need for her to feel this right now. Aurora follows right after and Sunny greets her with glee before staring at the new person. She immediately heads over to tell her all about herself.Zaela is next and the electabuzz gets into a fighting stance for a second then relaxes. "Holy fuck. You guys are the real deal. Wow again. Well. Lets all say hello then! This is the most interesting thing that's happened in forever!"Must not cry yet. Must not."Query and I will go get a bit more berries. Just in case. Don't worry. I can find Tru miles away so we won't get lost." Sunny is already running around the electabuzz while he just laughs uproariously at her excitement. Aurora finds this quite charming, joining in on the conversation.Tru gazes at me hard but nods to Query and tugs Mars after as the group moves off. Zaela is already underground and moving along, looking kind of pouty that the powerful looking electric type doesn't seem like he wants to fight.I wait until they're out of sight and I'm on the other side of a nearby tree to start sobbing. Query just stands nearby and pulses compassion my way. He doesn't offer words yet as I grieve for what I may have done. Perhaps it isn't my fault. Perhaps this pokémon isn't out here because of me when he so obviously fits in with others.Perhaps, but it feels like it was me.Ten minutes is all I allow myself to wallow in self pity. And to worry what I've done to the others in my list of pokémon. What I do know is I'm going to offer this guy a home and love him for the rest of my days if he lets me."Heart-voice. I know why you feel this way but you must let it go. Whether you cause this or not it has happened. Do not despair. If he is as he appears he will adore us and be better for it."Query always knows what to tell me. Today its not enough yet. Its a start but I wipe my eye and am thankful I can't cry through my absent one. Would make my eyepatch (Silver-gold again today) all gross. I lean against my inspiration get myself under control. Gotta get 'Thunderbug' on our side."Alright. Thanks Query. We'll do right by him. He willingly tried to get Mars to fight him. Best believe we're going to take him along." That's the kind of reckless we like. Blame the dragon starter. My boy is great. Three of his minds have been collecting berries from as far as he can reach. Laughing at that I ignore how it sounds like a half sob and help him get more for a few more minutes. Not at all delaying. Nope."It will be fine heart-voice. You will make this right in your mind even if I do not believe you need to. Come. I'm sure Sunny has done half your work for you."Well. He's probably not wrong.He was right.Coming onto Tru's signature after washing my face in a stream we pass and rearranging my hair from the mess it became from flying we find Thunderbug (Gotta get him a different name) laughing uproariously at something Zalea is saying. Zaela. Turns out she was telling a Sunny story. So Query was half right actually."Look! I did too meet a flying cat! Mom believed me! So its true! Mom knows more than all of us!""Sunny, even if Mistress believed you it might have been something else. An illusion or dream. You said this cat was not there when you awoke.""Tru! You can tell I believe it! So its true! I'm a good girl. I don't lie. So neeeehhh. You believe me nice new person right?""Of course! How could I deny that face! Look at it. That is the picture of truth!" For some reason he flexes here. It fits him. Sunny rewards him by jumping in his lap and purring hard."See! If someone I've never met trusts me then you have to believe me." Oi. That logic. Still, my heart."Whatever Sunny. Sister dear. Did you bring me meat?" Shaking my head with a sigh I curl my fingers up under Zaela's chin. She's only part way out of the earth and leans into my caress."Didn't have time. We'll go hunting before the next city I promise." We've been feeding ourselves mostly along the trip. Survival hunting began year one of my meeting with Zaela after all. "Here we are. Aurora? If you would?""Of course darling. You shall enjoy this quite a bit sir. Come. Pick your favor-Sunny! Be good and wait your turn." Shaking her head fins at Sunny in a mild rebuke causes the sylveon to let out a little whine but she sits back in the new guy's lap and waits patiently."Hah! You guys are alright. Hmm...Lets try all these. I like to be surprised so why not?" Aurora takes the bowl I hand her that we use for this and waits for me to mush up the chosen berries. She dials down a powdered snow and combines it with refrigerate to make the slush we all have grown to love. Handing the electabuzz the bowl, I'm already fixing up the remaining bowls I pull from my storage bag. I ignore my own helping as the electric pokémon takes one bite and his eyes widen.With the most serious look and level voice, "Aurora is it? Marry me. Make me the happiest belly-I mean pokémon ever. I shall sing your praises across the land." Tru of all people starts laughing, "All shall know of Aurora as the most beautiful whatever you are-" Now Sunny is giggling, "and shall come from far and wide to see your splendor. No! Don't answer me now! I shall defeat all who see your hand-hoof I mean!"Can't feel guilt. Mars rolls his eyes and lays down to nap. Zaela snickers a bit and swims over to sleep next to Mars. Much as it seems she's interested in Mars since he evolved (Ew), he doesn't appear to notice. They do like sleeping next to each other for warmth though. Yay giant lizards.Night comes quickly and I'm left with Sunny on my lap, electabuzz across from me and Query, never sleeping, playing some sort of game with himself by watching the stars. The only reason I know its a game is because his mental echo is always the same when he used to play games with those older folks in Blackthorn.Tru lays up in a nearby tree and I'm not sure if she's asleep or just meditating. Zae and Mars haven't moved from their spot. We're pretty safe. No one wants to fuck with my dragons."This was an amazing day. I can't believe all this happened because I did something stupid. Thanks Ella. Your mons are great. Makes me remember the good times."Alright. Suck it up Mita. "If you don't mind, would you tell me of how you came to be here? Only if you like. You're very kind. Sunny is friendly to everyone but she likes you quite a lot."Electabuzz just sits there for a while, obviously thinking of the past and lets out a low hum that crackles gently with voltage. "She was a bit of a diva. Expected more than she should with little effort. She didn't really abuse us but she just wanted things to look neat and to be the star. If she'd started with contests maybe she'd have been happier. After a while she couldn't afford us really. Some of us were wild and would have been fine if she just tried to get us to find food. Would have been hard, but doable."Another pause here as he looks upwards. Maybe counting the few shooting stars we're seeing. Query's hum of empathy makes the electabuzz smile. "After a bit more time she just started letting us go saying all the usual things people who blame others for the things they lack say. My team was never overly close but there were good folks and good experiences. I wandered a bit, considering getting myself caught and ended up here. Been a few years. I think I didn't know what I missed until you guys showed up here. Maybe that's why I've been attacking fliers or such. Falling back on old instincts to try and find someone to be home."He's very carefully not looking at me or Sunny, his eyes a little misty as he watches the forest line, trying his best not to see any of my obviously beloved family. Even through my tightly controlled senses I can feel the ache. My response startles him. The premier ball rolls to a stop at his feet, not touching."Its yours if you want. I'll adore you for the rest of my life. On my heart."I nod down to Sunny. "On my soul." Another nod to the sleeping Zaela. "On my honor." A thumb up towards Tru in the tree. "For the inspiration he gives." Query just hums out at my words. "And by the son I don't deserve." My eye flits to Mars. "For my miracle." The amaura who sleeps in the shade."Join us."He does.Training.New team member means we see what he can do. And where he can fit in. The obvious one is to help Aurora, Tru, Mars and Query with electric moves. We're not moving until Aurora gets more electricty down and everyone else of those four knows thunderpunch.I ask electabuzz if he wants a nickname and he gets a grin on his face."I thought Thunderbug was my name?" Another flex or two and then he acts like his back gives out. Sunny behind me starts giggling and falling over as if it was the funniest thing in the world."Sure. If you like it. But I know a gym leader in Hoenn named Wattson who kind of looks like an electabuzz. He's also an electric type gym leader who laughs really, really loud." Electabuzz chuckles at this then points at himself as he laughs louder. I just snicker and nod."Yeah. Wattson is great. Its a pun too! Genius! Genius!""Who Mars? I'll get him for you!" And off Sunny goes.Training continues after that. Wattson fits in like he was here all along. With Zaela he's respectful and shows off his strength just enough to show he can take a beating. They spend a lot of time smashing rocks. With Tru he tends to tease her gently. She's blushing in her aura. Teasing potential?Aurora and him play flirt for fun and confuse the hell out of Sunny.Sunny loves him for always putting her happiness first. When they spar he dramatically falls over and refuses to hurt her unless she really gets into it. He even says no to me if he's convinced Sunny is done. He'll learn she's tougher than he thinks but I respect it. He doesn't like causing pain but he works hard.Mars and him get along the least. Its not that they dislike each other as much as they have nothing really in common and my charizard is hard to relate to.As for Query? He's found his new game partner. Wattson is fascinated by the board games I packed away for Query and its led to some hilarious nights before sleep."That's my damn hotel! I took over Kanto with this army to buy it! And you rolled doubles twice in a row! Go to Hoenn jail!""You can't do that Wattson. I call go magikarp. That gives me the rights to the railroads and this trumps your ace of hearts. Give me three hundred pokédollars.""Too late! You've triggered my trap card! I summon Ho-Oh to the field! You and your four brains can suck my-""I love that you are getting along but if you curse more than me in front of Sunny I'll let you have resistance training against Zaela for the next week Wattson.""...your turn Query.""Why thank you Wattson."Yeah the bag spilled and mixed all the games up. Query was fascinated by the chaos of it. Wattson just found it normal and loved it.Days go by and Wattson shows how much he appreciates it all. We're shown all his favorite places in this little bit of territory he owns and we pick up a few more evolutionary stones he's been hoarding in case he ever found some friends to make strong. That chokes me up again a bit. I promise to get him something nice for them. He waves it off but I'd already planned to eat up a lot of the money I got from Steven when we hit Goldenrod for my team.Zaela and him bond over hunting game animals. Electabuzz are omnivores if I remember correctly but Zaela just loves that his thunderbolts partially cook her meals instantly.Finally we're ready to head out and its just Mars and I with Wattson looking at his former home."Never thought I'd leave. I hoped. But never thought I'd go back out into the world. I'm super excited Ella. Wouldn't even mind being Thunderbug. Yep. So we're going to Goldenrod eh?"I nod, my single eye full on him. I've dealt with my guilt in the last few weeks here. Not well. But enough for now. Its hard to carry it when he's just so happy."I've heard they have electirizers there."Amusement now. "They do.""I'm not nearly as strong as anyone but Aurora. And she thrashed me the other day."Mars actually chuckles at that. It was pretty funny. Wattson is incredibly speedy. She tricked him with her sandstorm into committing to a rushing hammer arm. She used Magnet Rise and Ice Beam to push herself up out of the storm as he ran in just long enough for him to slide across the Ice Beam's path straight into the tree behind her.He didn't get back up."So you say. You've a lot of growing with us. But ask it all the same Wattson."The glint in his eye is there still and he pats me on the shoulder. "I'd enjoy standing with your monsters. Get me one. I'll never let you down."My answer is a simple nod.Goldenrod CityI don't like cursing from my old world but holy fucking merlin's balls is this city huge. Fuck. Okay. Got it out of my system. And a lie. Cursing is very refreshing at times. There is so much here its annoying. For the first time since my journey I stay at a hotel. I've got enough money. The deal with Steven didn't exactly make me insanely rich but I'm well off. Plus I've got a trump card.Devon discounts. Now I know Silph is king in Kanto and Johto but there are ways to order from Devon and have things delivered. Its normally super expensive and you'd just go to Silph to have it cheaper here….But I have diiiiissscounts from the Stones. Aurora was the big part of that but I got a nifty card of lets me pay less! So I'm fine waiting around here and exploring for the week or so. Even with my discounts is going to take me down over half of my current money though. Alas.Its worth it. Tms. Not as many as I'd like (what with the electirizer costing almost half of the total) but still amazing ones. Hyper Beam is the big one. I wanted Giga Impact too but it wasn't worth it compared to the coverage I'm planning with the rest. Toxic, Fire Blast, Aerial Ace, Focus Blast, Shadow Ball. Mmm. Sexy.I don't want to face the gym leader until after the items arrive. Not because I think I need them but because I know Wattson wants to re-enter being a trained pokémon with a bang. So time to visit is the National Park which is big enough that all my pokémon can be let out. I see people with rhydon out so yes I'm going to let my whole family out thank you.I don't care if the local Jenny starts following me around. Zaela hurts assholes only.We attract a ton of attention including an asshole (which actually almost proves my previous statement) who offers me a lot of money for some of my various family. I give him my eyesmile and ask my partners their opinion.The scariest of the reactions in my opinion? Sunny goes completely quiet and moves away to get the Jenny. She chatters at her and leads her back. I listen to what she's saying and grin at my girl."Officer. This man offered to buy my family here. Sunny here would like to inform you he's a bad man and that she is very sorry that she considered feeding him to Zaela so would you please lead him away."Jenny offers me a bit of a look but does indeed help the man go away after sputtering about how rude that is. The scary part is Sunny really did want Zaela to eat him. I'm so proud. Maybe that is some of the scary parts of fairies coming in finally?The park is a hit otherwise. We don't participate in the bug catching contest but do enjoy the scenery. Sunny and Wattson get into play fighting with the pokémon of a family nearby. Its growlithe and houndour pups and they are simply adorable. Probably breeders. Cause usually those types would be natural enemies I believe.Query finds the part of the park with all the chess boards and we can't pry him away until its time to leave. Mars actually joins him and much to Query's disgust beats him in four different games at once.Zaela lazes about and terrorizes wingulls who get too close but actually we end up having a fun conversation about how far we've come and who we want to brutally crush next. Dragons rule.As for Tru and Aurora? They are fascinated together by the flower gardens. Tru as it offers a serene place for her to focus on her aura and Aurora because she grew up on a tundra mostly. There was nothing at all close to the vibrant colors of the flowers. They're even harder to pry away.Its a day before my items (including my keystone finally) are set to arrive. Its when many years of training pay off for me personally and when I start to make a name for myself.Criminal enterprises are going to happen no matter what. I'm aware of this and I won't be able to stop it all. I'm after the assholes that think they can rule the world. That said, I also haven't been hiding my team. Which I know in a city this big will attract attention. I'm not expecting it to absolutely cause an issue but Tru goes with me everywhere and no one is left behind anywhere. Even Query who heard about the game corner. How a steel behemoth can learn Sunny's cute eye jutsu I don't know.So its morning and Tru and I are jogging around the hotel I'm staying at. I've let my aura project fade while I'm in the city and have my senses linked with hers. Thus, our combined range immediately picks up on the signatures coming to steal from me. There isn't murder, but they are definitely violent. I wait till there is a turn and toss Query's pokéball high onto a nearby roof and my boy releases out of sight. Mars' pokéball detaches from my belt with Query's psychic hold and soon my charizard is flying away.Tru and I find an alley that we can hop over the end and wait. Query hovers over the buildings and is very careful to stay out of eyesight and at an angle that the rising sun won't reflect his silver body so the coming douchebags can see. Six men creep around the alley and there is eagerness even if my lucario is obviously ready for combat. One trains a gun on me as two play lookout. The other three start slowly moving forward. Query has already got a hold on the few pokéballs he can sense."Alright girl. We know what you have. Hand them over and you get to live." He's actually telling the truth. Probably would knock me out but yeah. He doesn't want to hurt me. A couple of his friends do though."I don't think so. Here's my offer. Surrender now and no bones will be broken." I've got mom's face on right now. I put my eyepatch forward, exuding menace with my aura. Tru simply shifts her gravity down and waits.One of the men scoffs and the others are professional enough not to laugh but they're all amused except the leader. He's angry that he hast to hurt me now."Fine. No time. Sorry girlie."Tru doesn't wait for him. Shifting into speed she darts forward slamming her spiked fist into the man whose gun isn't working. Query can concentrate on a lot these days. Others try to pull pokéballs but the find them plucked from their grasp.One shows how smart he is as he immediately begins to try to flee but Query set up reflect screens that can handle Momma's attacks up and there is nowhere to run.Me? I was trained for years by mom and Tru to fight. Its time to finally get myself some action. If this were against a pokémon Query would have pulled me up to the roof without my permission and damn the scolding later. Not that I'd argue. I'm not ready for a pokémon. Against these clowns? Time to see if my project worked as well as I hoped.How do lucario tank the damage they can endure? Some of it is typing but Tru took Momma's attacks and used it to counter. The answer, as always, is aura bullshit. So my project? Its based after an idea I got from an anime. Its not even that hard to think of.Tru naturally makes herself tougher with aura just by breathing. I can do the same with effort. I'm still a human and not up to what I think is a Guardian's level. But maybe I'm getting there. Since before we faced Momma anytime I wasn't healing my pokémon I've been running my aura through my body as if I were in combat until it felt natural.Yes. Dragonball Z. Yay Goku and Gohan. I've been keeping myself at would normally be my peak combat form. Everyday. Every muscle torn and remade constantly. Getting me used to it as if I were breathing. Suffering to get stronger just like my family. Its not been fun but as I dash forward and slide down and under as Tru would have as a riolu, the snap of this man's leg when I put all the force of falling into my punch is sooooo satisfying. Zaela rubbed off on me ages ago.The scream startles the fuck out of the next guy so that he doesn't see Tru already sending an aura sphere his way. Its powered down or he'd die but it takes him out as she finishes off the first guy. No moves. Just a smack to the temple. Three down.The smart guy who tried to leave raises his hands in surrender as the other two prove their stupidity by trying to raise guns. They're fast, but again, trained against Tru for years. I duck behind Tru as she rushes forward and we each pick a target. Query keeps the guns from firing but just as I've made sure to train my team to be safe I respect that they want me to as well.Tru's kick crushes her target into the wall and I do something potentially stupid but trial by fire and all that. I take the guy's kick, roll with it and attempt Counter. It works surprisingly well but I also wince at Query's mental pulse of annoyance with me. This is a counter from a regular human (if adult) so its nothing to brag about but it still puts him down as my fist drives into his gut enough to crumple him over.The whole thing lasted a matter of seconds and I'm breathing very, very hard. Not because I'm tired. No. Even if I knew my boy had the guns secured, its still the first real combat of two lives. Query floats down to gather them all up, even smarty pants. Not quite slamming them against the wall he brings in the reflect screens in a makeshift forcefield. I raise my hand shakily to my hair and rearrange it to distract myself as Tru puts her paw on my shoulder.Then its waiting. Smart guy tries to open his mouth but all it gets is a dark glare from my lucario. Query busies himself by gathering pokéballs and weapons and I release Wattson."We were attacked. Mars should be leading the police back here but if you could stand down the street a bit and send off a few flashes that'd be great?"Wattson looks over at the douchebags and lets out an electric whine that sounds like violence. Smarty pants 'eeps' and tries to get deeper into the wall he's against. Smiling faintly I carefully pat Wattson before nodding towards the street. This is the most silent he's been since we met. Yep. Very angry. It centers me a bit, finding his concern nice and warm.Its about five minutes later when the sirens meet us. Found out later Mars landed right at a Jenny's feet, startling the crap out of her and getting her ready to do something until he sat down, held up a claw and started scratching a message at her feet. I've been spoiled but I guess most pokémon don't read and write. Huh.A police trained hypno gets the whole story from us and we're off to the station to get statements and annoying time wasting talks past that. Nothing bad for us just making sure they got all they need. Its pretty straight forward and about the only thing that I was asked was why I didn't just fly away. My response was this."Ma'am. I'm of Blackthorn. We make sure things end if its a problem. If I flew away there would be no proof of what they would have done. Plus I'm training to be an aura guardian. This is what we do." There was disbelief there and the woman across from me was about to lay into me before you guessed it, aura hand waving in her face. One might wonder why this is acceptable behavior. As I did get off scott free. They send kids off at ten. With giant huge monsters.I got a warning but secretly the Jenny was impressed. Plus as I'd hope from the start, my lucario being so obviously loyal gave me huge points. My name got spread among some police and I'd get a nod or two later that week. Jenny tend to gossip about crazy stories. Mine was one. I'd probably get recognized in other cities by the end of my journey in Johto. Hard to miss the eyepatch girl with a lucario.Most of my team was alright with what happened though Aurora scolded me for days. She didn't care that I was doing what I always planned to do. She actually would have preferred if I sent Mars and Zaela to maul them to death before they even showed up. Hey. Even if she didn't have to fight back in her original days it was a much more savage time. If someone crossed you they died.I loved her for it. Sunny didn't get the danger but the rest of the team did and they'd signed up for it. I despair for the day Sunny realizes that her family will become even bigger killers. I pray constantly she won't ever have to make the choice, threatening that man at the park aside.Only a day till everything I ordered arrives.Luna JennyThings were weird. Beyond strange. Luna's life is full of care taking. Or at least that is how it feels. People with pokémon who fail to think. Those who do and get harassed by others. Honestly she talks more than she ever is in combat, even if she keeps up with training. But she wouldn't change anything. Of course not. Its just that some days she has to scratch her head, scratch Sir Growls-A-Lot and have a good sit.Ella Mita. Basically the Blackthorn Heiress. Even if they don't really work that way. But damned if her mother isn't one of the more scary public figures in Johto. Trainers get to go off at various ages. Sometimes far too soon for Luna's comfort but its not her job to deny them.So long as they follow the law.Which the girl did. Her records were splashed with confidentiality flags that sends any good Jenny's hackles to rising. While things aren't often hard to work around in such cases….Hannah Mita.The Hannah Mita. That alone has Luna staring off into space. Its hard not to admire a figure who is so tough on injustice. That so readily goes to help every part of their government. Her Kingdra is famous for saving boats and ships of all sizes. Of taming gyarados like they were like a lap meowth.And all things point to her daughter starting early. A Lucario. She's never seen one before. But it sang to her. Every one of her hard earned senses to detect something off or judge a situation told her that Ella Mita's lucario deserved the same respect she shows her Captain.If not more. What did the girl do? She used armed criminals as a training exercise. Given what Luna could get off her record, she's got monsters for pokémon. Just her lucario could have taken out the bastards alone. Bullets against a steel type? Against the even stronger one that was above?Luna can't help but think about the scene. About how the girl set it up so that if the weapons or pokémon that the criminals used had attacks with collateral damage, her metagross was set up to contain it.That she lured them into an enclosed area knowing the danger and sure as can be that she could handle it. It could be argued she didn't release her giant starter to make sure the criminals didn't lose their nerve. Preliminary interviews suggest that the thieves believed she was a spoiled princess who got rich parents to buy her the pokémon in her possession. The were working off reports of a trip to a park from a third party. So not the brightest of thieves. Even if their pokémon admittedly were fairly geared toward capture and stall.Shaking her head, she scratches Sir Growls-A-Lot along his ears and gets up from her desk, annoyed she was staring off into space. Time to find that cute guy at the Cleffabucks and get her mind off of a kid she's sure is going to be in the news someday soon in the future.HomecomingElla MitaThe next day the shipment came and everyone got new toys. Hyper beam went to Aurora, Query, Zaela and Mars for now. Toxic went to Sunny(she needs a way to take a stronger foe out even if its over time and she is surprisingly tanky even without her screens)Mars, Tru and Query. Fire Blast went to Zaela and Mars. Focus Blast was Mars, Tru and Query for now. Probably Wattson after he evolved. Aerial Ace to Mars and Zaela. And Shadow Ball to Query, Tru and Sunny. Also managed to find time that week to get Zaela a stupidly expensive riding saddle. Its made out of what I think is the kevlar equivalent here. Zaela's skin is that damaging.While there were a lot of moves to learn, pokémon learn quickly. They wouldn't be mastered but most of them are already things I had started preparing them for. Shadow ball, toxic and focus blast were things less able to be picked up quickly but most of us have been in constant, unending training for years. They'll surpass my expectations. And Aurora and Wattson will benefit from this. Mars alone will probably be able to teach his to the others in record time.Before I get into the bit important thing that is Wattson, Query and the game corner. Short story short. They don't let walking super computers play the games. I'm not surprised. Query even offered not to take any money just so he can play. They cited no room for his size and I promised to play whatever he wanted for a week for an hour or so each night as he dragged his feet while we walked away. Poor guy. Especially because the screeching sound of his steel limbs made horrible marks as he dragged himself with psychic. Not that I care about them. Not letting my boy play.So an electivire can evolve in two ways. Long exposure to electricity in the wild. Like...Days worth almost. A huge storm is needed and they have to call just enough to push them into the next level and not enough to kill them. Or a legendary could do it I suppose. Fine. Three ways then. The electirizer (third way!) cost so much because of how much power it takes to pack into it and the materials its made of. Lots of containment things I don't understand. Frankly I doubt I could have afforded it for years without mom trying to crush the balls of Joseph Stone.Now it isn't necessary to trade to activate it. That's Nintendo trying to sell two pokémon games. All it takes is handing it to your electabuzz."Sure you want this right now? You're pretty tough and we can wait if you want to stay this form longer." I meant it. We had plenty of time for him to make this choice. We were outside of Goldenrod. Nowhere in the city felt right to witness this. Plus who knows if it explodes or something. Its directions said not to be in a building but nothing more."Aww. I like how you're being nice but really. I want this quite a bit. Gotta be able to stand with you all. Or bounce with Sunny as it is.""You're wise. Bouncing is fun. Will you be better at it all grown up. More grown up? Or do you shrink when you evolve? I've nev-""Sunny. Later. You don't want to miss this.""Fiiiiine Aurora."Smiling a bit more I move my hand forward. My guilt has faded to a dull ache that probably will come and snap at me when I least expect it but for now? This is going to be another amazing memory of this world I love. Dropping the yellow device into his hand I stand back as the bright white glow of evolution shines over my family.Wattson has only been with us a short time but he's definitely loved already. The easy nature and delight he gives us daily makes us all very happy for him as he grows. Somewhat wiry muscles turn into giant turbines to run his great power. Two thick electric cords pull out from him to hover behind him like tails and his body grows massive to join most of my team in being so much taller than me.Once the glow fades and we can see his ever present grin as he waves his arms about Sunny dashes forward to hug him and I'm not far behind. Huffing with laughter he chortles and brings us in.He's home.ThunderbugHey. You! You with the hair! Yeah I'm talking to you! I've got my eye on you!Get it! Cause you don't have one! Hah! Oh shut up Query. You know she doesn't care.I think like Sunny I don't get this. We just need to have an easy night and joke around. All this smart emotional shit can work itself out if we're just together. Leave the concern to Angel and Aurora. They're the ones who understand all the tear crap.Alright alright. I remember when you offered me a place with the team. We got all mushy. It was good. But this isn't that! This was one fight. We got knocked down and lost things. But we're still here. Us.I'm selfish in that I want us to survive over everyone. Dislike me for it but tough. I care about us more than others. Especially Sunny. Everyone here would turn into true monsters without her. Not the ones you jokingly call us.I love you Query but this is going about it wrong. For you? Sure. It'll touch her heart but from some of us this isn't the best way. We'll do it because we all love you Query, even Tass. Shut it ghostface. You do. You wouldn't tease him as much if you didn't.Yea that shut you up didn't it?For Sunny and I? We'd hug you Ella. Make you smile and find a good place to let it out then go on with our lives. You're a doer love. You go out and grab the world. You might write it down in that journal of yours but its only after you've kicked ass and taken names.Damn I love the phrases you give me of your old world. What a trip when you told us that. Oh and fuck your guilt about your choices. My life was mine. Not yours. It still isn't. I chose to be here and while my old trainer let me go I could have tried hard to stay with her. It wasn't to be.She wasn't right for me. This family is. So cheer up! I heard you got a hot date coming up. Yeaaaaaaah. Ella gonna get some. Mmhmm. Seriously though. I'd really try to get that locked down. You know you deserve to be happy. Query thinks they're your mate. As if you haven't been with them for years.They don't have to be if you don't want you know? Can just have fun and live a little for yourself. Ever since we've met you've given and given and given. Never been selfish that I can see that would cause harmSo go out and have a blast. We can be all super serious later I promise. Be fucking heroes.Ugh. Sunny is right. This does bring you down. Fuck Query. What's your problem?Well. I don't know what to say. Oy. Think Tru likes chocolate? Its our anniversary soon as you well know. She always is so secretive about what she does for me. You said women love chocolate right? I've seen her eat it before but she's always so prim and proper. And hot. I'd ask her but then she'd know what I'm trying to get her! Not just chocolate of course but that's the first part of it.Ah well. Not sure what to do besides the gifts. If needed I'll just speak from the heart. I already knew how to do that before I met you all. And she knows how I feel. But its good to show it too. I think she wants more kids too. CrazyBut you made it easy as pie. Speaking from the heart I mean. Its awesome messing with Query too. He doesn't get how I think. Bouncing all the ideas in my head.Like this Ella! Some of your sayings are weird. Pie is hard to make if I remember the one time Sunny and Aurora got it in there head to try. So why is it easy? Hmm? HMM?Yeah Query! I get to ramble now that its my turn!So hold on. Everyone before me knew you before you had just one peeper. Were you different then or did you go through some giant mental anguish about it? Shut the fuck up Query. This is my question to her. Just tune out your brain. Brains.No really. I want to know. Not to bring up bad memories but maybe if you went through it back then the memory of getting through that now could help you.Yeah! See Meta-bud I do know what I'm doing. Psh.So hopefully that thought helps. Got nothing else right now. Just that I love yah. Come back happier. Cause if not Sunny will pout so hard and that ruins everyone's day. Angel will. Uh. Be less awesome? Shit. Not good at threats. Stuck up and miss legendary are back.Gonna go see if I can trick Tru to tell me what she wants. I'm going to fail I know. Geeze that woman.I'm flexing now by the way. Hah!
Getting Wattson used to his new body was somewhat easy as these things go. Electric types have some of the easiest control out of any type of pokémon. Most of how they interact with their power is sorta like dimming a light or increasing the brightness. They then affect their attacks by way of nodes or sharp points on their bodies. Wattson has both his two new tails and the node-thingies (no idea what to call them and Wattson just laughed and said that 'node thingies' was the technical term. The ass.) to control where he wants something to go. Everything else is just a matter of voltage or so he describes it. As if I understand that. There is no real internet here for me to make myself an obvious expert in moments. Glergh.
Zaela was the test subject due to immunity and it was glorious to see. Wattson has such a wide range of physical moves but almost all were perfected before we met. All in all there was a lot of learning the new TM moves for the whole team going on. Toxic was particularly hard for those who got it. Sunny actually did the best. She just channeled 'mean thoughts' and got it down faster than Mars….Who again perfected every other move the fastest. He did give Sunny a particularly long look at that.Which she took as a staring contest and won readily of course. Alarmingly, she added it to a book of counts of things. No idea where that came from.A refrigerated Hyper Beam is all I could have hoped for. Focus Blast has been the biggest issue for Query and to a lesser extent Wattson. Tru of course dealt with the fighting energy attack suuuuuuper easy. Her and Mars started taking over helping the others.Sunny has found a new game with Shadow Ball. With Tru of all things. They basically play dodge ball with lower level versions of it and score points on the most dramatic dodges. Wattson thought it up as motivation for Sunny to learn the attack. My bottle of Sunshine is slowly starting to get more determined in battle because of Wattson. The encouragement he gives and the way he shows her that you can find fun in it are changing her mind even more.He really fits in well.Aurora is getting closer to evolution I think. She's been with us for over a year and my won knowledge tells me the way her trunk is growing and the fins on her head mean she's getting closer. Amaura level slowly but it shouldn't be more than a few more months as I can see. Once she evolves I think Zaela's going to find someone to challenge her in a much different way. It'll be the giant type advantage but still. Query can match her up close and Mars annoys the shit out of her but neither of them hurt her truly as a four times weakness does. I think she's in for a wake up call. Their friendship is still gaining momentum and if Aurora beast my sister it'll probably only get stronger.Zaela is definitely the example of strength for our group. The pinnacle we all push ourselves towards. But Aurora cuts through that feeling and just mothers her in a way Momma never did. Some of it bemuses my starter. Like how Aurora asks how she feels and seeks to understand her but it also is cherished as only really myself treats her in any sort of softer way. Of course she wouldn't accept that from anyone but me until Aurora. Just something about our time-lost girl that sets everyone at ease.Tru is subtly excited for the next gym battle. My Truthseeker has come so far from the prideful girl that I had so much difficulty with in our year of getting to know each other. Patience has become what she's known for and it shows. Wild pokémon have started visiting our camps to talk to her. She settles disputes, helps them figure out a bit of training and heals injuries constantly. I'm extremely proud of her and she can't help but smile at me whenever she feels that.Having lost so much to Mars in the National Park last week my boy has been badgering, as much as he would, Mars constantly for more games against him. Query never really minded losing when we still played video games together with my dad in Blackthorn but something about Mars defeating him while he was using all his brains at once has made my metagross stubborn about a rematch.Mars is still kicking his ass. Zaela finds it beyond hilarious as Mars is utterly indifferent to Query's continued frustration. The few times I wake up in the night and find the ever watchful Query having three of his brains continuously running out ways to beat Mars is darkly amusing. My poor boy. Still funny though.Sunny is Sunny. She's still running around excited with the world. Helping the wild pokémon with Tru was a pleasure to watch. Ursaring known to go on rampages end up following her around to pick berries she can't reach for a giant slushy party she set up on our last day in the clearing we found to train up Wattson. There are no real ice types around here so seeing the faces of these random pokémon light up at the treats Aurora has gotten so proficient at making was a joy. Query says he'll make a sculpture of it later. Since he has perfect recall I'm pretty excited when we have time to let him work.Mars has been pretty focused. I wish he'd have a bit more fun but then again his emotions scream contentment anytime he comes up with an idea for the future. We're going to Alto Mare right after the Gym Battle. He rightly pointed out that flying away from Goldenrod without a reliable teleporter would waste a lot of time to go back towards Alto Mare after we finished our run in Blackthorn.So boat time after the Plain Badge. One last thing before we get to that. Just a bit of life during camp one of the last nights there that eventually leads to some hilarity I hadn't expected later when we do get to the boat."Yes. I know a fair number of stories about the sea. I tend to read a lot." And watched a ton of movies in my last life.""Well come on! Lets hear a few. Good and bad. Its always good to get a tad scared at times.""Wah! No it isn't Wattson! That's the first stupid thing you've said since we met!""Oh Sunny. You're very brave when you have to me. A slightly scary story will not hurt you.""Aurora is right. I doubt Mistress would tell us anything that is likely to occur anyway. Our luck has gotten much better.""Way to jinx us Tru. Mother. I'm curious as well. Tell us a story." Maybe this is an interest I can set into Mars? He's got a good imagination. Maybe I can get him to read stories or make them up to tell us at nights."Fine fine. Sorry Sunny. Wattson asked first so I'm going to tell him what he likes. You are most welcome to go bother Query over there if you don't want to hear it. I won't think less of you.""No! I'm a brave girl. I'll sit and listen!" She immediately covers her eyes with her ribbons and partially hides her body behind Aurora a bit.I paraphrase a lot but Titanic actually comes off well. By the end of it Sunny is leaning forward to hear the sad end, her lip quivering as Aurora struggles not to keep in her laughter at the sight. Mars is actually quite enraptured, probably because I recall telling him stories when he hatched. And sang a bit too. Alright. Ideas for making less of a serious boy."That's so sad! At least she found something else in life later! Sorry Mom. That was a good story. And I was brave! See!" Cue the 'thinking dance' I associate with her thinking hard about a concept. Pacing and such. Sadly whatever she was about to tell us is interrupted by Wattson."That wasn't sad! It was amazing! Bam! Drama! Whoosh! Fist fights! Rawr! Musical idiots going down with the ship! I'm pumped! ZAELA! We're gonna wreck shit!"From then on Wattson badgered me for epic stories. Didn't matter if they were sad or not. Just if they had something he found amazing. Which translated to him having to do something epic in response.Oh boy.The Goldenrod Gym is pretty impressive in its simplicity. I think its different than the one in the anime. Can't remember it too well and I think I'm fine with that. This is my true life. I'm so blessed with joy I can't describe it.Wow. Where did that come from? Tru gave me a wavering smile at my emotion and I returned it.Argh. Back to the gym. Wattson, Tru and Query are set for this due to their experience with fighting abilities. If it is more than a three on three it'll go Mars next, Aurora and finally Zaela. Sunny didn't feel up to fighting today so she's gathered wildflowers to wave around as we battle in support. Its been a while since she's done that so we're kind of pumped.This receptionist recognizes me. Sunny is slowly walking while carefully keeping her bundles of flowers together and Tru just gazes calmly about the cream colored building. None of the Gyms so far have had convoluted puzzles to go through like the games. When I have had to face gym trainers its always been in the main room and they go one by one."Ah. Ms. Mita. Mr. Howard has been expecting you any day. I must say hearing of the thugs you apprehended has set up quite the buzz in the gym. Please let me see your pokédex briefly and you can head on in." Huh. So my name did get around. Makes sense. Gyms are often called on to help with the police. Why waste a source of well trained, powerful pokémon?Tru tilts her head at the man and I wonder what she's feeling. My aura project is still going on until I can't feel the strain of holding it to reinforce my body. Probably a few more months from what Tru and I can tell. Stepping into the main battle room makes me laugh a bit inside. It really is plain.Sunny sets up her cheering section next to the referee who comes in. To his credit he just shrugs and takes his place while doing his best to ignore the usual joy from my sylveon. We only wait a few more minutes for a somewhat tall man with the biggest grin to enter followed by a girl around my age. Whitney. I recognize that hair. Holy shit did she wreck me the first time I played Silver.Some defeats you just don't forget."Hey! Hannah's gal! Hope you don't mind if my niece here watches the fight. I'm Milton Howard." He's got one of those over the top mustaches that looks like it could jump off his face and bark at me. But he's very friendly and Whitney gives me an excited wave I return. Good people. They don't comment on my black and blue eyepatch nor seem to care. Tru-colors today. Oh. I need to get one in Wattson colors as well as the colors of the rest of my eventual teammates. I'll do that before we leave. Or rather order them. Our Joy made the ones I'm carrying with me for borrowing Sunny all those times. Sunny's rewards were her favorite foods."Right! Excited. Got some strong fellows for yah but I have a feeling you'll be earning my badge anyway. Whitney, go on and keep her sylveon company." Whitney just grins and skips on over to make baby talk at Sunny who eats it up and starts showing off the flowers she's brought."This will be a three on three battle between Ella Mita of Blackthorn and Gym Leader Milton Howard. The challenger may substitute only. Begin!"Without me saying anything Tru hops into the arena. Us trainers are in a booth that isn't that far off the floor. Milton releases a mammoth of an Ursaring that gives a near Zaela level of anger roar. Tru pulses determination as she springs forward in Extremespeed and sets up the new combo that she and Query have been working on to bastardize Psi-Fist's second stage for her at least a little. Calm Mind, Detect and Mind Reader mean the first two massive slashes miss her by inches as her eyes close. The dance is magical to watch as she starts weaving around within the giant bear's guard to get the flow of him like she's some xianxia mistress about to slap some faces.She doesn't attack until she knows what she wants and then its her new move. Its not anything she can yet combo with but Ursaring is so enraged that he takes it head on. Close Combat is brutal though and I wince at the impacts. Thick hide and muscle or not the impacts are driven by Query's long history of learning weak spots of pokémon anatomy. He spent a lot of time reading Joy's medical books and taught Tru his methods as best he could.Ursaring tanks it with a giant roar of pain and uses the reckless way Close Combat works to pound my aura partner into the ground before she can react. The impact sounds horrid but not as much as the Counter she uses. Spinning at impact with the floor she kicks hard at Urasring's legs and flips him.He does not appreciate this. Both take a bit longer to get up but he's fuuuuucking pissed. Strategy goes out the door as I pale a bit. Energy I am familiar with from Sunny powers up the bear's fists and then light on fire. In probably the most physically destructive combo I've seen yet Milton's bear uses Fire Punch, Play Rough and Fury Swipes at the same time.My breath hitches as I truly fear for Tru. She starts dodging with millimeters to spare trying desperately to use new combo Reader to not get hit. Sadly its too new and my lucario is slammed across the floor. Tru lets out a cry as she slides into a heap at my feet. My hand reaches to her ball but she springs up a moment later with a harsh groan and clutching an arm. Ursaring is already on his way, hurt, but anger overriding his pain.Tru doesn't panic though and her hand blazes with power as she forces an Extremespeed to the side to dodge. She blitzes across the room two more times to charge her attack which is more than an aura sphere. Ursaring calms just enough to shoot what look like Seed Bombs at my lucario. She dodges barely and just looks unimpressed.Ursaring snaps and his mouth opens in what is obviously a Hyper Beam. It charges faster than any of my team can currently and I get ready just in case. I believe in Tru but I'll not risk her health. I shouldn't have worried.Tru shifts her hurt arm that she's been steadily pulsing Heal Pulse against a small Protect screen in that method she learned from Joy's Lucario all those years ago. Ignoring the pain she Bullet Punches forward and once again is in Ursaring's guard. Showing that she hasn't been slacking the Focus Blast she was preparing tosses the bear into the psychic shields hard enough to make them flicker in distress. The giant bear crashes to the floor a moment later, out.Tru is already falling forward as I return her. Holy shit.Whitney just gapes at the damage to the field and with both she and Sunny hopping up and down, cheering as Milton and I turn to each other with a matching grin. A lopunny is released onto the field and Sunny cheers even louder as Wattson comes out. His words make me facepalm though."Woooooooo! Hell yeah! Allllright!"I shouldn't have told them the story of Aquaman last night.Milton's Lopunny just tilts her head as Wattson crashes his fists together and starts off at his unnatural speed. With how big and bulky he looks its all the bunny can do to dodge a massive cross chop. Wattson just whoops some more in joy and a discharge makes my hair stand on end as he pulses it across the whole field. There's no dodging that so Lopunny takes the damage and hops forwards, two ears jabbing out at my newest family member in mega punches.Wattson tanks them with a laugh of joy and ice punches followed by fire punches and sneaky thunder punches show how happy he is that the bunny chose to stay in close combat. Wattson must have been studying with Aurora as he pulses a surprise thunder wave with a 'hah!' but Lopunny must have limber as it washes right over it. Taking a battering she bounces high and a way to shine with a defense curl and pulses of agility to try to close the speed gap.Wattson just chuckles and tosses out thunderbolts that cause us all to cover our ears. Lopunny takes two with admirable effort and reluctantly, if their face means anything, shifts into a dig.That's a big mistake. Query's trick of negating a lot of the damage earthquake can do has only gotten more effective. Since Wattson is even more vulnerable to it, he and Query have worked on a devastating way to counter ground moves that he can see coming. For dig which is slower than most? I wince ahead of time.Everyone ignores how Milton is yelling something because of how loud things get. Wattson really lives up to the spirit of his name.Chortling in anticipation Wattson causes the lights to flicker as he hits himself with a Thunder with visible ease. Motor Drive activates and his tails spark madly. When Lopunny attempts to come up from behind with a dig enhanced mega punch they take a Motor Drive boosted Focus Punch that shatters the ground. Everyone stumbles as if Wattson used Earthquake and all that can be heard is him yelling out in joy."Get some! Yeah! Who's back and badder than ever! Me that's who! Oy good fight. Shit. Sorry. I might have hit you a bit hard. You! Hairy face! Get this bunny some help stat! I know I kicked ass but your mon needs medical attention!"Face meet palm. Again.Of course Milton is just staring blankly as Wattson carefully extracts lopunny from the crater, vigorously dusting off the pokémon. Milton returns his partner, eye twitching as Wattson crosses his arms and nods in satisfaction."Right. Last one. Then I think we have to repair. A lot."Wincing at that I look to Wattson. He's a-okay and definitely solidified his position as one of my strongest pokémon but he sees my unspoken question and grins. He gives Sunny and Whitney a thumbs up before being recalled.What comes next is what I was hoping for. The titan of destruction. The haunter of my dreams. I was hoping against hope for this. Miltank. The true threat to the world. The true last boss I must defeat. Seriously though I want payback.Query was very amused at my thoughts on this. Thus he requested this fight if it came. I was going to use him anyway. My shiny metagross makes Milton raise his eyebrow and Whitney gasp in delighted shock even as she jumps around more with Sunny. Ribbons no longer have flowers in them. Some of Sunny's flowers are scattered on the long suffering ref but my eye is on the miltank.The moment I saw Whitney I was hoping against hope that her uncle would be the cause of her destroyer of dreams. And he is. The miltank immediately curls into Rollout and Defense Curl at the same time. Query has been training like mad with a certain move just for this fight. Agility is already humming but from the speed Miltank is going at it wouldn't be enough for Psi-Fist to truly make its mark.So Query uses Pursuit, over and over again. The cow of doom is unfortunately (for miltank) not able to outrun my metagross. If Lopunny were out there Query would have a rough time keeping up. Instead the most feared cow is treated to Rock Smashes to lower her defense, psychic spears to push against her momentum and Bullet Punch Meteor Mashes that have almost no loss of attack from shifting mid swing. A brilliant attempt to use Bide to put the hurt on Query is ignored as dual point blank Focus Blasts are switched to immediately. There is very little chance of them missing that close and they don't.Then Query hits Psi-Fist Stage 2. Its finally ready for anyone. Flash has become deadly with stage 2. Not only does he pulse out confusion waves but he starts targeting parts of his body with flash the more likely they are to be in his opponent's face. The reflective nature of his body makes this more brutal as we watch a hulking, fast behemoth spin his dazed, confused and utterly off balance opponent with impunity. The rapid uses of Flash almost match a strobe light going out of control and everyone has to avert their gazes.If that weren't enough Toxic was used in the first Pursuit , hidden by the dark glow of the move's activation. Milk drink is attempted and foiled as Query reverses gravity and then its pounding the poor cow into the floor in a manner I'm certain is going to make my boy famous someday. Its too much damage in an impressively short time. The terror falls. The demon of world's end is finished. Truly the best timeline.Ahem.As Milton recalls his last pokémon I again am amazed at how far Query has come. Even against my King Garchomp he can hold his own in close combat and its just getting better."Well. Crap. That was impressive. Forgive me if I'm a bit lost. Three times I couldn't even speak. Thought it would be a bit more even on the last one. Whitney! We're training hard tomorrow!" Miltank was my nightmare! Deal with it!Milton regains his good humor as he spots his nice with Sunny's ribbons in her hands as they jump about in a circle around the pouting ref. We carefully make our away around the shattered ground and I laugh internally that out of all my pokémon its my electric one that has done the most damage ever save the fight with Momma."I've been training for years and years. Thank you for taking me seriously." Milton just chuckles and tosses me my plain badge."You too kid. Ursaring seemed all bloodthirsty but he had fun. This'll drive him to train harder. The others too. I've gotta go get a crew ready to clean this up. Do me a favor and wreck a few other gyms would yah? Make me feel better."Its easy to nod a promise to that as he passes me. Whitney and Sunny come tearing up as I recall Query who was just basking in his victory. "Oh my gosh! How do you have such strong friends?! You look my age! That was amazing! Your slyveon is so cute! Where did you get a shiny pokémon?"I more or less let her babble a bit until she gives me a chance to respond. "Seems like I've been training since birth along my friends with me. Though Wattson, my electrivire, has actually only been with us about a month. Helps that he was already so strong when we met. The rest is hard work and dedication. Plus my mom is the Blackthorn Gym Leader. I had a lot of advantages."My eye goes to Sunny who is humming a tune she describes as 'mega victory' or rather the FF victory theme I told her meant I won a game. "As for Sunny, she found me and we've never been parted." Cue purring and rubbing against my legs. "Query my big steel guy? Well he did the same. Huh. Happened to a few of my partners. Nice to meet you by the way. Ella."Taking my hand and rushing it up and down makes her even more excited. I cite needing to get Tru to a pokémon center and she offers to take me. Its nice to talk to her. Kind of like a human Sunny. This was a great day.SeaI'm leaving the plotting of course to Mars and Zaela now. Mars might be able to deduce things quickly but Zaela knows where she is at almost always. Direction, landscape. She has a knack for memorizing things quickly. We're not yet confident enough to fly to Alto Mare so the boat it is. Which also leads to some interesting training.I forgot that garchomp can learn surf. So Zaela has been swimming like mad next to our boat for most of the trip. She's no beginner when it comes to unpleasant training but she particularly hated this until I idly told her that tentacruel don't give a shit what they fight and are regularly know to try to attack any boat or creature in the sea. I don't know if she just found it too boring before the idea of possible constant battle, but it was funny seeing my shark (land or not) annoyed at swimming.My shark dragon grinned wide and large though. Wattson joined her in a bonding smack down of asshole jellyfish that had them laughing together about it for hours. Of course all the other passengers were rightfully scared of my giant dragon off the side and the booming laughter of my huge electric type. There were complaints until the captain in the nicest way I've seen someone say 'fuck you' told the complainers that if they'd like to go in the water and drive of the hostile pokémon he'd happily tell me to return my two friends.So yeah. Fun training. Aurora stayed out the most with me besides Zae and Wattson. Tru was still recovering a bit. She strained a few things but would be fine in a few days. The one time she did come out came a moment of hilarity from telling Titanic. Tru went to stand at the front of the boat and you guessed it. Wattson came up behind and yelled 'I'm king of the world!' Tru acted affronted because she got stared at along with him by passengers. The blush in her emotions again said otherwise.Mars took to flying above and enjoying the air while Query was just a bit too heavy for the boat and he can't levitate himself forever. Sunny discovered she gets seasick so I kept the miserable sylveon in her ball. Thus it was Aurora who had never actually been over the ocean that was my companion."So how have you found this new world? I know the last time I asked you were a bit iffy about some things.""True, but I've found that life is life. All the weird technology and customs don't mean that people don't live, eat and die just as it was in the past. What truly matters to me is that its so much easier to be nice."Something on my face must have posed a question because she crooned her lovely chuckle and increased her ice a bit to cause snowflakes to fly backwards across the deck. She likes confusing the passengers."Before it was find food and defend it. The battles I remember were not as brutal as some of the ones you've shown me but they were more desperate. Here I can enjoy fighting to defend our family and because I like it. The look on Zaela's face whenever we fight is intimidating,yes, but I can tell she expects me to give her great joy. How can I not like doing that for her? And we all know what Sunny does to us. Wattson too now. Everyone has their place and I've never been more happy."I stand with my ancient pokémon for the rest of the day in silence, just enjoying being alive.Its ruined a couple times by crackling laughter and roaring, draconic delight. Still great.Alto MareRight. Time to fuck canon. This makes me a bit nervous. I remember the Eon twins being nothing impressive in strength but I only saw the movie once. I'm positive I can find them with Tru but still. Legendaries. The alternative is unacceptable though. With Sunny still a bit under the weather I feel odd without two of my family out so Wattson gets the nod and while he clears the sidewalks a bit with his size his jolly smile and the lucario on my other side ease most people's fear."So why are we here?" Damn. I really have to tell the rest of the team my origins soon. Tru hasn't asked, but she's nice about things like this. My aura is determined to do good and that's all she cares for. Aurora and Sunny don't care where we go as long as we're with each other. Query and Mars both know the truth but Wattson is a curious fellow.I refuse to lie to him but this isn't the place. "I know a bit about some potential allies here. I'll tell the rest of the group the hows and whys later. For now just enjoy the city and let Tru and I do our aura thing to find who I'm looking for."Wattson takes the words easily and leans down to help a child who dropped their ball. Handling it over to the delighted kid with a chuckle makes the tension around us lessen again and we do indeed enjoy walking about. It helps that anytime anyone gives Wattson a look he flexes, 'breaking' his back and acting pained only to miraculously heal himself a moment later and two giant thumbs up. Snickers follow us constantly.The canals in this city are amazing and I long to let Zaela out and surf them, scary as it might be for others. Who doesn't want to surf a giant shark dragon? But alas. Duty.My aura enhancement fades as Tru and I join energies to look for likely Latias flying about the city. Latios was the responsible one if I recall. Latias seemed young but young for a dragon is still likely quite old. It only takes us an hour or so to get a ping of a particularly strong energy that has me smiling. She's curious alright.Kicking Wattson in the butt to get his attention has me laughing at his face. He joins me when he sees I was messing with him and Tru starts leading us to where we feel her exploring. The canals are the key as we wander about.Another reason I have Wattson out is we make quite the sight. Something perhaps an invisible dragon who longs to see new things would want to investigate hmmm? Once we feel her interest we start moving towards a nearby park that is somewhat secluded and patiently wait until Latias comes over to peek out of a canal within speaking distance. I flare my aura in slow pulses of intent and kneel down towards her, obviously seeing through her invisibility. Or at least that's how it appears."Why hello there. You've got a lovely feeling to you. Bright and cheery. Reminds me of one of my family here. Don't be afraid. I mean you no harm." She's spooked but also very, very curious. No one has ever seen her before and the emotions I'm radiating ease her concern. I leave my mind open for her to touch for the most part. Aura helps me protect it very well but I can nudge what I want her to feel far, far easier."How can you see me?" Just her head is out of the water, still invisible."Its not so much sight as it is aura. I can feel yours." Yep. Another waving of aura covered hand makes her even more curious. "Not sure if you've ever heard stories of aura guardians but I'm training to be one."That gets her attention. There is familiarity there and she slowly floats up and turns into a young woman in her twenties or so. I vaguely remember she took the form of a girl she knew in the movie. Probably hasn't been born yet or is a newborn right now come to think of it. Maybe this is that girl's mom? They were caretakers or something. The only humans the Eon Twins trusted."Aura Guardian?! I though there were no more!" Her voice is sweet and breathy. Once Sunny feels better I'm sticking them together and watching the magic."For the most part yes. But I've been able to use my abilities almost from birth. My hope is to find more of my kind and rebuild." My words fascinate her as if she's been waiting forever to talk to anyone."That's amazing. I've been here for as long as I can remember. Have you been many places? What are they like?" She's still a bit cautious but she relaxes quite a bit more as I sit and pat the grass next to me. Wattson's happy chuckle startles her until she giggles in response to his random flexing. Someday I'll figure out what causes this quirk. Tru simply sighs and bows."Since no one is doing the polite thing, I am Truthseeker and this is my Mistress. Ella Mita. Wattson is the Thunderbug right there." Wattson just laughs again and gives Latias a 'Nice Guy' pose. I shit you not. Did I tell him naruto stories? Fuck I did. I don't remember talking about Guy-sensei but here we are….I'm never letting Wattson have a disciple. I don't want to know how anime this world can get.Latias relaxes more and the next few hours are describing my life and about what I want in the world. She listens raptly and makes adorable gasps at the dramatic moments and even sniffles when I talk about how I lost my eye. She's desperate to meet my family after talking about them all but I say its getting late and we can meet up the next day."Oh no! It is late. Brother will be furious. And worried! But mostly furious!" Cue my offer."Would it help if I met him and explained I kept you? Can you get him to come here?" At that she frowns and considers hard. Eventually her face firms and she nods. I've sill only seen her illusion even if I know what her true form looks like. Seeing her eyes glow much how mine do when I'm channeling a lot of aura is pretty amazing."We can share sight. He's seen you and on his way. Uhm. He might be a bit angry and worried. I don't think he'll attack but don't make any sudden moves alright?"Her concern is touching and I just nod. Tru tenses but a look from me relaxes her somewhat. Wattson just looks excited for some drama.I can hear him through the water he's moving so quick. A splash and he's there. Not invisible and spiking anger and worry. Latias' face panics a bit and she steps in front of me. "No! Brother! Don't! She saw me when I was invisible! I didn't approach her until she talked to me! And feel her. Read her. She's nice and just wanted to talk!"Latios flares a bit of his energy in deep worry but calms enough to feel my aura pulsing outwards. You can't lie with aura and he knows that from the way his guard rapidly starts to drop. He's still quite angry but not worried I'll attack his sister."Who are you? What do you want with us?" Yep. Growly boy."Ella Mita. Aura Guardian in training. I've heard rumors of you two and figured I'd come and say hi. Possibly exchange information about issues that might arise and to offer my help in any way I can."I take a deep breath and look back at Wattson with a small apologetic smile that has him confused."Also, if you'd like to read my memories I have seen a future you may want to avoid. It might seem like an odd viewing but I think the location of a certain garden even if I've never been there will convince you."More alarm from the both of them and a gasp from Wattson at that statement. Tru feels as if she's realizing something but her emotions settle immediately. Loyal girl. Then I feel the twins peering in. I don't know what they think about the anime style of my vague memories but Latias starts sniffling as she sees her brother fade and Latios radiates disbelief for a while but can't deny that I know of the caretakers, the soul dew and where the Secret Garden is.There are long moments that follow as they consider things."That...Is very hard to accept. When does this happen?" That makes me think. Ash is not even one. And Johto happened a year or so after his journey began? I think? It was also towards the end of his journey. I believe."In about just under twelve years from now. I think. Time is odd in the way I saw this happen. I've got a lot of other events of similar nature I'm trying to stop. I've toiled and fought since I could walk to achieve my dream. I couldn't leave you to fade like that." That's the absolute truth. Tru puts her paw on my shoulder and Wattson's follows. I owe him and everyone an explanation but his support without it is touching.The Eon twins just stare at each other, one dragon, the other a human. I don't pull up my defenses and my aura still rings true."Alright. How did you want to help?" Gotcha. Smiling in relief I let a bit of the tension fade and relax. They're listening."Sorry to say this but...While you are a legendary, I kind of think you two...Are not that skilled or well trained. I came to offer help with that and in a couple years I'd like you, Latias especially, to meet that boy in my memories who tried to help you."Am I trying to get Ash two legendaries before he even goes on his journey? Yes. Fuck canon. I'm doing my best to be a hero but I'll say it again. He's the chosen one.Latias seems very curious about this and her emotions fill with hope as her brother just thinks hard, even with a bit of resentment. Still, seeing his own death and watching his unprepared sister be left to do his job as he sees it must hit him hard because he sighs and nods a bit later."I'd like to see proof that you can offer us training. As to seeing that boy? Ash was it? Perhaps. In time. Would you require to catch us?" Definite resentment there. And I nod."Yes but not as you think. I have my own family to find. Ones I expect and a legendary as well someday." Wattson makes another surprised sound at that and Tru just nods as if I confirmed something. The Eon Twins show shock. "I'd like you to travel one at a time to a friend of mine in pokéballs. His name is Professor Oak and I tell you with all of who I am that he is a good man that would never take advantage of you."Seriously. Amazing guy. "He'd examine you, help you grow and even teach you when I'm not around. Also I'd make sure he keeps you secret. Plus, yes, he lives near where that boy will grow up. The Professor doesn't know of my future knowledge but in all of it he continues to be an honest and caring person."My conviction is getting to them and I'm so very glad for it. Latias is vibrating with excitement and Latios is relenting. After some time he nods and just rolls his eyes at his sister. "Since you already know about it lets get to the Garden. You can show me your skills there and we'll talk more about being caught. I know Latias has wanted to see the world a bit more so I'm willing to entertain this. Its hard to argue against your own death."Things get a little glum at that and Latias flags before offering me a ride, visibly trying to perk up, as I let them know I don't have a pokémon who can get me there particularly quick. Query could but yeah. Slower. I recall Tru and Wattson with a smile and we're off.I don't know if I can properly describe the Garden. Or the soul dew. It feels...Damn. Everything. Like everything. Brightness is present here in ways that aren't just physical. Don't get me wrong. The view is beautiful. But its the energy that makes me want to stay here and meditate for a year. Nuts.Tru feels the same way when I release her and simply sits down to do just that. Wattson is quite against his nature silent. I ask if I can let out the rest of my family and Latios gives a nod after a moment.Mars looks about and gives a short nod to a suddenly defensive Latios, which increases more at the sight of Zaela. My team's body language shows no hostility though. Query's bright mental hello probably helps a ton. Psychics. Aurora is cooed over by Latias as she floats to examine my beautiful pokémon dinosaur. Then what I expected occurs.We are all blinded. Lost. Nowhere is safe as Latias and Sunny meet. Joy meets Sunshine and all is lost! The cuteness! For real though. They hit it off immediately, not that I expected anything else. Sunny immediately starts to explore the Garden with Latias in excited squeals, happy laughter and bright words. Latios looks dazed and we all start when Wattson laughs so hard he has to lean against a tree."Arceus you all look stupid. So funny. Hah! Come on. We're supposed to show our stuff right? Are we fighting you blue guy?" Latios is a bit put out by Wattson's attitude but his jolly nature gets through and he nods."Yes. Which of you is the strongest?" We all look at him a little weird as we glance to the thirteen foot tall dragon who is suddenly grinning with sharp teeth."...fine. Dumb question." It kinda is. She is better at condensing, if not at Momma's level, but Zaela's presence radiates power. When she wants she can turn it on to an extreme, like a d&d dragons fear aura somewhat."Oh? Shooting for the top blueboy? I like your attitude. We can have a bit of a tussle. Sure your sister will approve?" Zaela has shown a lot of signs that she likes Mars more than just a teammate but I'm not surprised she would consider a legendary dragon someone worth flirting with. Also to try and perhaps make Mars jealous.Sadly he's already napping. He predicted the moment we were in the Garden that the Eon Twins would agree to my request. So of course he's napping."I. What. I. No! Lets fight. Not..Uhm." Saved by the cuteness! Latias and my sylveon are now using her ribbons to run together. Latias holding onto them like Sunny is a horse she's trying, and failing, to control."Fine fine. Whatever blueguy. Got someplace we can wrestle that won't get all torn up? I'm not one for particularly pretty things but even I wouldn't want to see this ruined." Latios feels like his face should be red if that were possible and silently leads us deeper into the garden. Mars, Tru and Aurora hang back while Wattson follows us along. A few minutes later we find a clearing that has a few craters and few plants. Probably where Latios does some self training or such."This will do. Just show me you can defeat me." His tone suggests he doesn't quite believe it. He didn't look over my memories other than the movie. The rest of his time in my head was to read my intentions.Zaela just chuckles and waits patiently for Latios to move. When he doesn't immediately she gives the equivalent of her shrug and Latios is immediately in a sandstorm. He levitates out with a squawk but Zaela is already in the air, judging correctly that he'd go straight up instead of backwards away from her as he should have. Crunch causes Latios to hiss in pain and in her favorite move she pulls him into the sandstorm with her.Flashes of light and the hum of psychic abilities pulse from within the concentrated sand. Zaela has gotten to the level where she can use sandstorm in distinct ways. A savage, localized tornado of skin ripping wind or a widespread area with horribly poor visibility but lower damage. This is the damage part and she tosses Latios out with contempt not that much later.She used bite to interrupt his psychic attempts to flee in a way that disrupts such efforts. A trained psychic finds way around it. Added to that were a near constant set of dragon claws and I'm a bit surprised she let him out so early.I'd be overly proud of her defeating her first legendary but Latios doesn't look too hurt and both Zae and I know he's not anywhere near his full potential. Still. The point is made as the Eon shakily floats back up, Zaela's malice in her dark attacks having cut his levitate."Well that was humbling. I see. So I do have far to go." Latios' mind goes out to me again as Zaela starts repairing the area as best she can. Considering how our group fights she's gotten pretty good at it. Finally his voice carries a bit of resignation and just a hint of relief. "I agree to your terms. For now I'd ask that you let my sister go first. Until she is stronger as you say I'd prefer to be here alone. Even if we can share things through our eyes."I'm a bit surprised at that. I was expecting more argument but I'm not going to look this gift rapidash in the mouth. "Glad to hear it. We'll get this all started in a few days so you can prepare, talk to the caretakers and such. Plus I think if I split up Sunny from your sister right now she'd bite me."His eyes widen as he peers through his sister's vision and I finally hear him chuckle. Its a pleasant sound. "They do seem to be having a lot of fun...Yes. Perhaps this is for the best. Thank you for scaring me silly Guardian.""Of course! I've been doing it to my mom for years. And I'm not quite a Guardian yet." I'm not actually sure when I get to say it. Maybe at the end of the first big part of the plan?"If you say so. Saving me from my fate has me at least honoring the title." Oh. Well. Don't blush!Time goes quickly after that. The caretakers I'm pretty positive are the girl from the movie's parents. I seem to recall her just having a grandfather or something so I give Latios a look and he hums curiosity in my mind. A quick thought and he promises to look after them closer just in case. Its weird having a pokémon other than Query in my mind but the twins are unfailingly kind. Even Latios. Its hard to be mad at how protective he is with all the love he's got for his sister.Do good where you can. I must. The parents, Jordan and Elisa, actually make things easier as they know what my lucario means. The Eon Twins are quite isolated so having the caretakers tell them about how lucario are all inherently good and that they only follow those they believe in did a lot to ease the rest of the fears. Being an aura adept on top of that made them gape and ask me endless questions.Sunny and Latias did indeed bond fast. I may have to consider actually sending my Sunshine off to Oaky's lab to visit with Latias. I always hated the idea of being away from my team but a few days visit at times might not be bad right? Things to consider.Days end and we're ready to start things. As much as it pains me I'm not going to troll Professor Oak with sending him Latias without warning. I'll catch both now but leave Latios' ball with Jordan and Elisa to switch out with the Professor. After the Silver Conference this year I'm going to return and train the Eon twins in earnest for a few months. It'll give my team training against legendaries for the future too. Even if the twins aren't exactly strong yet.Oak's reaction was funny regardless.Ring ring. Hah! So he does answer the wrong way! Classic. "Professor. This way." The way he rubs his head is pretty fantastic. Teasing later. "Got some interesting news.""Is it the electivire that showed up on your ID? They are very rare. But then again not so much for your team." My grin must have got him thinking, and possibly a bit worried, as he just quieted down for me to talk."Nope! I'm going to send you a catch in a few minutes and you have to keep her isolated from the lab assistants. She'll take care of hiding herself except in whatever way you two agree to meet. Let her explore the ranch and if you can get your team to train her some. In return she's agreed to let you study her."Professor Oak's eyes narrow in thought and he rubs his chin. I've sent him regular updates about my team and he's quite appreciated it but this is asking a lot. Still, he nods slowly and holds up a hand before moving away to lock the doors to the lab he's in. "Go ahead and send her over then. Do I need to sit down?""Yes."My lack of snark widens his eyes and he just waits patiently. I come back with Latias in her premier ball. She loves it by the way. She spent at least an hour returning herself with giggles and squees. Sunny found it so funny that they tried to play tag by returning themselves and popping out near each other. I had her unregistered until she was ready to go to surprise Samuel. Hey. I might not be my dad but I can do some stuff. Incidentally if anyone ever caught me doing that I'd be in big trouble.Samuel had some warning right? Yeah that was enough.Waving the ball at the professor I put it in the console. I'd asked the local Joy for a private way to talk to the Professor and she let me use her office for a bit after making sure I was indeed talking to the famous Oak.I can see Samuel waiting for the information to pop up and the look on his face makes me sigh as if I've watched a romantic movie's climax. That's how pleasant it is to me. Idly I register Latios' ball next . He's elsewhere but I've still got his ball here. The second gasp from the Professor isn't as good as the first but just as satisfying."Anyway Samuel. They've agreed to switch off so one of them is always here to protect the city. This is for extra security and they aren't actually mine. I'm a caretaker of sorts like the ones I'll introduce you to later. Jordan and Eliza will keep their balls. Then after the Conference I'm going to come back and help them get stronger."The Professor is gone. He's heard all I've said but the mouse in his brain has fallen off its wheel. "That's all professor! Latias can tell you the rest. Buh byyyyyeeee."His mouth opens to demand some sort of answer and I shut down the call to the picture of Latias hopping out with a mental 'Boo!' ….Okay maybe I did plan to troll him some more. Whatever. Sunny let Latias see all her memories of Professor Oak. I think he doesn't quite know how much the Eon Twins are actually eager to meet him. There's a lot to be said for Sunny's utter approval.The good Mr. Oak would scold me later for trying to give him a heart attack in earnest but ultimately appreciated the laugh. Latias would thrive there I know it.We left the city a few days later. Lots of things to see with the team. Those that wanted to at least. All Zaela did was start Latios' road to hell. She pounded him into the dirt for the entire time we were there...But he is a dragon. And yes, again, dragons and hardship.Wattson and Sunny made it their mission to find every cotton candy stop in the city. Guess its a local thing here? They came back radiating need to run in circles and they succeeded. Tru went with them to talk to people and make sure no one messed with them. I sat down with Jordan and Eliza and went through a training plan I'd been building for the twins ever since I thought of this idea.They weren't trainers but they could help a bit. I also showed them what foods dragons as well as psychic liked and various ways to help growth. They knew some of this but I bent the rules and offered some Blackthorn recipes as well. Aurora wouldn't leave the garden until we had to go. With that and the National Park I resolved to get her a garden if/when we settled someplace.Mars slept. Woke. Planned. Slept. Query kept me the most company. Usually he goes off to find people to play with him in games but he knew I was very happy to have started what I hoped was a major change for good and he basked with me in the emotions I was feeling. Every new emotion causes him to examine it and roll it around in his unique mind. This was different than usual satisfaction and he was fascinated by it. I let my boy enjoy my high.When it was time to leave it was to a hopeful and resolved Latios and his human caretakers waving goodbye. Sunny was already in her ball for the boat ride back and yes, I will be letting her visit Latias at times.Already I could hear Wattson and Zaela roaring in pleasure at another return voyage of stomping fools. Tru just sighs next to me and watches Mars take off to get some exercise. Its Aurora who makes me think again. Boats and her must agree with each other."So this is why you came here? You came from the possibility of anywhere and you chose us to live your life with?" The confession of who I used to be was so utterly anticlimactic. I don't want to cry again. They didn't care. Zaela thought it was awesome I beat death. Sunny was just glad she got her Mom. Aurora had died already once so it wasn't too surprising to her. Tru just smiled and said nothing. Wattson was the most fun in that now he knew how dramatic my life would be. He was excited to learn all the entertainment I knew of my old life.And of course Query and Mars already knew."Yes. This is what I wanted. A family and a way to help this world I love even before it was mine." Aurora isn't very touchy. She radiates care and warmth but she rarely actually touches us. Her leaning into me then meant a lot as she gently nuzzled my side."Thank you then. I'm not sure what my fate would have been if not with you all. Perhaps I would have been revived. Perhaps not. This is where I belong though. Where we all do."Its nothing she hasn't expressed before. I'm very blessed to feel them all care for me. And each other. But seeing Latios there...Tangible proof that I'm changing this world for the better? Aurora's sincere thanks makes the world brighter.More crackling laughter and draconic roars of pleasure don't ruin the moment this time.FirstLiza was beyond excited. Ever since Ella Mita and her family arrived in the valley her life changed in ways she didn't even know to hope for.The answer to her strange ability alone was worth it all. But here, today? Waiting for her first pokémon? A riolu to help guide her and for her to adore in turn? She doesn't know what to do with herself. What's more is she's aware that her Dad is also preparing a charmander for her. Everyone in her family get one.Two pokémon in the same day to start her life anew. Insanity.The Rota examiner was interesting. Funny too. He had a way to sense what you needed to hear whenever she didn't know how to respond. Kind and earnest, she could see how he could get the most from her in the answers he sought.After he left with a smile and a promise to recommend her she couldn't stay still for days. It took helping a few of the charizard work out some steam to get her distracted. She might not like all their anger at times but she adores their will. The burning purpose to be more.Mars' request has taken about as well as she can expect. The charizard she's approached trust her but a future goal not yet in sight isn't exactly that exciting. Charizard live in the moment. She'll succeed though. She knows her path now.Liza never really wanted to travel but she did always want a pokémon. A charmander was the obvious choice and she's sure she would have loved her life without another option.Once she met Tru on the one night that Ella was here though? The way the lucario's voice rang out and sent shivers down her spine? She knew she was meant to have one someday.Aura is amazing. She hasn't been able to activate it fully yet but now that she knows what it is she's sorta gotten able to get the emotions of one of the breeder's pokémon. That led to another day of hard work to get the excitement down.Today though. Today's the day. Ella's dream is fantastic. To help the world. Serve the people. Its like all those stories kids get told about heroes but this is achievable. With pokémon who can understand you? That's an amazing gift. She knows its a hard road that Ella has set before her but Liza has lived with charizard her whole life.She knows hard effort.Her father steps outside with her as they watch the road up the their home. Gently laying his hand on her shoulder, she just smiles up at him. He took her change in dream well. All he did was make sure she really wanted it. And it was easy to see her desire.Again, they live with charizard. Both recognize stubborn resolve.Bouncing on her feet she spots two dots. She wasn't told who would be coming but its obviously pokémon from the way they are bounding up the trail. One tall and one short.As they get closer she can spot the longer ears of the lucario and the dainty feet of the riolu as they leap in graceful jumps upwards. Her eyes focus as intently on the riolu as the riolu does her. There is something in the air that they both feel and without a word Liza steps forward to meet him.The riolu is tall for his kind and rather burly, built more for power than speed. Lucario just sighs and watches the interaction. Typical of his kind, Lucario moves forward to talk to the child's parent. Liza doesn't notice nor does riolu. Aura sings between them."Its obvious that they are meant for each other. You are her father yes?" A slow nod confirms it. "Then I leave you with this advice. Let them grow and fail together. Riolu has a lot of pride but he's a good one, that one. Nothing more need be said. Your daughter is worthy. I can feel it."Nate just stares numbly as the lucario departs. As civilized as they might be lucario are pokémon and his former charge can take care of himself and his new partner. Liza and Riolu don't notice still, so intent on each other they are."Uhm. I'm Liza. I can feel you. Is that weird? We're going to be the best of friends." Riolu just nods his head and his small face splits in a wide grin."Of course we are! I have trained to serve you in our quest to root out evil and grow stronger! Fair partner! None shall stand before the might of our conviction!"Liza blinks. That she can understand him is joyous but did she hear that right? "Sorry. Say that again?""I shall say it as many times as I must for it to drive things forward! A knight I shall be to you, my liege! Aaron and his partner will fall into the past at the legend we shall bring!"As Liza just continues to boggle she fails to notice her father move off to the room he told her not to go into until her pokémon arrived. Even as her new partner regales her of all that he is ready to accomplish with her the footsteps of her father pull her attention away finally."Alright kiddo. Here she is. She's been waiting for you I think. This one is something special just as your riolu. If you're going to go forward with this goal of yours then you need the strongest."Behind him small black eyes peer at her out of a tiny orange face. The charmander shyly waves her tail and looks curiously at the riolu still huffed up behind his new partner."Hello. My name is Charla. Uhm. We're going to be friends right? Mother said you spoke to us. Is that right? I don't like to fight as much I don't think but I wouldn't mind helping protect you...If. If you'll have me."Liza isn't sure what to do. Riolu, finally quieting stands next to her and peers up with bright eyes. "Another comrade! Amazing! Truly I was requested well."More blinking occurs. "You were requested?""Yes! The Princess' Mistress wrote that you'd likely get a rather calm charizard so she suggested to give you the most mighty of warriors! The most bold! I!"Liza can't help it. She laughs just a bit to both her new companions' confusion. This was not what she expected. Not at all. But his earnest heart can't lie to her. She can feel it. He'll stand by her against all the inhabitants of the valley. And her charmander would calm those he could not tame. Turning down to see a tiny claw tugging on her shorts she reaches down to hug both her new partners. A sword and a shield. Maybe Ella's dream wasn't too far away from her fairy tales. She'd stand as a Guardian no matter what."Now! Let us be off to adventure! Come Charla! We shall learn what your strengths are! And if not we shall create them with the courage of our deeds! Forward!""...you're funny."
bình luận đoạn văn
Tính năng bình luận đoạn văn hiện đã có trên Web! Di chuyển chuột qua bất kỳ đoạn nào và nhấp vào biểu tượng để thêm nhận xét của bạn.
Ngoài ra, bạn luôn có thể tắt / bật nó trong Cài đặt.
ĐÃ NHẬN ĐƯỢC